Chair construction



Nov. 14, 1944. l H. RoBlNsoN 2,362,585

CHAIR CONSTRUCTION l Filed March 3, 1943 Byww ma Patented Nov. 14, 1944 CHAIR CONSTRUCTION Harold Robinson, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 3, 1943, Serial No. 477,889

Claims.

This invention relates to a chair or furniture construction wherein the use of metallic springs is eliminated. More particularly the invention relates to anovel substitute resilient furniture construction where, in place of the now critical coiled springs, is employed a resilient means with substantially equivalent functions.

It is the object of this invention to provide a resilient chair construction consisting of a resilient webbing secured to the furniture frame, together with a secondary webbing or resilient support yieldingly disposed in spaced relation to the first webbing, and adapted to engage the same upon receipt of a compressive force.

This invention therefore relates to the Various arrangements of elements and their combinations as more fully set out in the accompanying drawing of which- Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side elevational view of a chair construction.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the upper resilient support therefor.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lower support therefor.

It will be understood that the above drawing illustrates merely a preferable embodiment of the invention, and that other embodiments are contemplated within the scope of the invention ,as hereafter more fully set out and claimed.

Referring to the drawing, the chair shown in Fig. 1` consists of a substantially rectangular frame I I with the end members I2 and I3 and the side portions I4 and I5. Suitable legs I6 depend downwardly from the frame, with the back support and arm indicated at I'I and I8 respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1 the chair is fragmentarily shown with the covering upholstery removed. The chair support or seat is given its resiliency by means of the webbing members I9 and 2'I which are disposed in parallel spaced relation within the chair frame I I.

The lower webbing shown by the bottom plan View of Fig. 3 consists of interwoven strips 20 and 2| of suitable material, for instance hemp or other fibrous substance characterized by a suitable amount of strength and resiliency. Webbing strips are tacked at their ends at,22 to the side frame members I4 and I5; while on the other hand the interwoven strips 2l extend longitudinally within frame I I. Said strips 2| are stretched over the rigid cross bars 23 and through the slotted portions 24 thereof, and extend down- Wardly along the outside edges of said cross bars.

Webbing members 2I further extend downward continuously and around the stationary cylindrical shafts 25 for attachment by tacks at 26 to l the -under surface of the frame members I2 and It is understood that shafts 25 may be yieldingly secured to the frame II permitting a degree of resiliency to the ends of the webbing strips 2l, and consequently to the entire lower webbing I9 if desired.

The upper seat support or webbing shown in Fig. 2 consists of a plurality of longitudinal strips 21 disposed within the seat frame I I and in parallel spaced relation to the lower webbing I9 thereby providing a resilient seat for the chair.

Cylindrical shafts 28 and 29 are loosely disposed within frame Il with their ends in sliding spaced relation to the side members I4 and I5. Webbing strips 21 are looped at 30 at their opposite ends and the shafts 28 and 29 are disposed therethrough providing a yielding support for the strips of webbing 2T in view of the yielding support of said shafts now described.

Looped members 3|, preferably of the same material as members 2'I and tacked at 32 to opposite ends of the `frame member I2, have disposed therethrough the end portions of the shaft stick 2B. Similarly the looped members 33 tacked at 34 to opposite ends of the frame members I3 have disposed therethrough the ends of the shaft Consequently it is 'seen that a substantially floating support is given to the shafts 28 and 29 which thereby provide a high degree of resiliency to the top chair webbing. strips 2'I. By virtue of looped members 3| and 33 through which shafts 28 and 29 are disposed respectively, and in view of the interconnecting webbing portions 21, with said shafts also disposed through the loops on the ends thereof, it is seen that said shafts 28 and 29 are susceptible to longitudinal as well as vertical movements.

The chair seat is completed by the substantiallyv resilient padding material 35 provided upon the upper webbing strips 21, over which is usually provided a proper upholstery material not shown herein.

Furthermore additional padding material 36 cf a resilient character is disposed between the initially spaced apart upper chair webbing 2'I and the lower webbing I9 to complete the chair construction.

Referring to Fig. 2 a looped member 31 is centrally positioned. and tacked at 38 to the frame member I2 with the shaft 28 disposed therethrough. It will be noted however that the 'looped portion 39 of stop member 31 extendsV beyond the loops in the webbing 21 acting merely as a stop or limiting means against extreme longitudinal or vertical displacement of the shaft 28. Th'us a limit is provided to the resiliency of the upper webbing 21 preventing possible breakage or distortion thereof.

It will be noted however that a similar stop member may be provided also for the shaft 29 suitably secured to the back frame member I3r in order to further protect theupper webbing strips against extreme distortion.

In operation the initial load when the chair is used is taken up by the resilient webbing strips 21, which due to the floating shaft support gives a spring action or yielding support for`the-chair==" seat which is commensurate with the coiled springs hereto employed in this construction.

Naturally a degree of resiliency isv also obtained from the resilient padding members-..35 and 36 employed above the webbing strips 21, and alsov between said webbing str-ips and therlower chair webbing i9. Further, after the' vinitial "comp-ression of webbing 21, engagement is had between webbing -21 and-fthe lowerwchair: webbing I9 whereby added supp-ort is givenftothefrs't 'men--r` tioned webbing'21.

'While webbing IS isitself-resilientfto alimited extent, yet the greater degree of-resiliency. resides in the upperwebbing 21 supported-'by the fioating shaftsB and 29H11; is this .upperfweb-"f bing oating construction th'at actually .provides a substitute resiliency for thecoi1edfsprings'here tofore employed -in chair lconstructiong-lbutlfat present not available'ftherefor.

. Having describedf my invention; :reference shouldnow be `hadn-to the claimsl'fwhichl-foliow said lower webbing, looped portionsonroppof site ends of said stripsffo'rming a partthereof yielding cylindrical shaitsgdisposedfwithin said frame and through said loops, and'lo'oped means secured to and extending. from said frame through which'the ends of said shaftsY are' disposed and supported, said upper; strips being adapted to yieldinglysustain aload; 4while said lower member is adaptedfor'supporting cooperation therewithy after initialdownwardHmovement.;

thereof.

2. A chair construction .comprising a.: hollow substantially rectangular `frame:witlof-,depending legs, a lower --webbing,seatK supportingmember secured to said frame, a plurality of :strips ofI nia-- terial longitudinally disposed and 'yieldingly secured Yvv'ithinv said' frame -in yspaced#relationfto lower webbing; loopediportions'on op-posite ends of said strips,l yforming a=parttthereof'yield ing cylindrical shafts disposed within saidffram' and throughfsaid loopsylooped:meansfsecured to and extending front said frame'fthro'ughiwhich the ends oi' said shaitsaredisposed andsupported, and looped movementlimiting means'sec'uredlto and depending from said frame for loo'selyien-A gaging said dowel sticks to1 prevent undue-distortion and movement of said upper supporting strips, said upper stripsY being,.adapted to yieldadapted for supporting cooperation therewith after initial downward movement thereof.

3. A chair construction comprising a hollow substantially rectangular frame with depending legs, a lower webbing seat supporting member secured to said frame, a plurality of strips of material longitudinally disposed and yieldingly secured within said frame in spaced relation to said lower webbing, looped portions on opposite ends of said strips, forming apart thereof yielding cylindrical shafts disposed within said frame and through said loops, looped means secured t'o and 1wextending from said frame through which the ends of said shafts are disposed and supported,

-and resilient padding material provided upon said strips and between the same and said lower webbing, said upper strips being adapted to yield- I-inglyk sustain allo-ad, while said lower member .isadapted for supporting cooperation therewith after initial vdownward movement thereof.

4; A chair construction/comprising a hollow frame-,with dependinglegs,Y ,front and yrear cross l bars secured to said frame, a lower webbing-,seat

supporting ,member consisting of a plurality of transverse strips ofv material secured at their. ends to said frame', and a' plurality of longitudinal' strips of materialfinterwoven therewithp-with their ends looselyv drawn over and around'said cross bars and secured to said frame, a plurality offstrips of. material longitudinally disposed and yieldingly secured withinsaid frame in spaced .'relationto said lower webbing, looped portions 'a on opposite ends. of said' strips, yielding -cylindrical shafts disposed within said frame and through said loops, and looped meanssecured to Aand extending Yfromsaid frame through which the endsiof said shafts are disposed Aand -supported, said upper strips being adaptedto yieldingly sustain a loady while said lowermember is adapted for supporting cooperation 'therewith v after initial downward movementfthereof.

5. A chair construction comprising a hollow framey with depending legs, notchedl front and rear cross bars secured to said frame, a lower webbing seat supporting member consisting of a plurality-of transverse stripsL of material secured at their ends 'tosaid frame, and a plurality 'of V Vlongitudinal strips of material interwoven therewith, slidingly'disposed through said cross -bar yportions on oppositel ends of Vsaid strips, yielding cylindrical shafts disposed within said frame and through said loopsyand looped means secured to l and extendingfrom-saidv frame through which the ends of said-shafts are disposed' and supported, said upper strips being adapted tol yieldyingly sustain a load, while'said lower menflber is adapted for supporting cooperation therewith yafter initialdownward movement thereof.

" 6.' AI chair construction comprising a hollow .frame with depending legs, notched front and rear cross Vbars secured. to said frame, alower webbing seat supporting member consisting, of

a plurality of transverse strips of material secured `at'their ends to said frame, and a'plurality lof longitudinal strips. of material interwoven' therewith, slidingly'dispos'ed. through said cross bar K notches and with their endsA secured to said imaiy sustain a loadl while said lower me'mber..is ;75

iframe, yielding shafts" disposed withinsaid Vframe intermediate. said cross bars and the' ends' oflsaid latter strips, over whichthesameare yieldingly for supporting cooperation therewith after initial downward movement thereof.

7. A furniture construction comprising a substantially rectangular frame with' depending legs, a lower webbing member secured at its edges to said frame, an upperv webbing member looped A at its ends loosely provided within said frame in yielding spaced relation to said lower webbing, floating supporting shafts disposed within said frame and extending through the loops, and means on said frame yieldingly supporting said shafts, said upper member being adapted to yieldingly sustain a load, while said lower member is adapted for supporting cooperation therewith after initial downward movement thereof.

8. A chair construction comprising a hollow rectangular frame with depending legs, a lower webb-ing supporting member secured at its edges to said frame, an upper supporting member looped at its ends loosely provided within said frame in yielding spaced relation to said lower webbing, longitudinally and vertically yielding supporting shafts disposed within said frame and through the loops, and means secured to said frame for yieldingly retaining said shafts, said upper member being adapted to yieldingly sustain a load, while said lower member is adapted for supporting cooperation therewith after initial downward movement thereof 9. A chair construction comprising a hollow rectangular frame with depending legs, a lower webbing supporting member secured at its edges to said frame, an upper supporting member looped at its ends loosely provided within said frame in yielding spaced relation to said lower webbing, longitudinally and vertically yielding supporting shafts disposed within said frame and through the loops, means secured to said frame for yieldingly retaining said shafts, and movement limiting means secured to said frame and loosely engaging said shafts to prevent undue distortion and movement of said upper supporting member, said upper member being adapted to yieldingly sustain a load, while said lower member is adapted for supporting cooperation therewith after initial downward movement thereof.

10. A furniture construction comprising a hollow frame with depending legs, a lower webbing member secured at its edges to said frame, an upper webbing member looped at its ends loosely provided within said frame in yielding spaced relation to said lower webbing, floating supporting shafts disposed within said frame andextending through the loops, and means on said frame yieldingly supporting said shafts.

i HAROLD ROBINSON. 

